PIA to Return ATR 72 Aircraft to Leasing Company
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 52155
- Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2004 6:52 pm
- Location: Pakistan
PIA to Return ATR 72 Aircraft to Leasing Company
PIA is going to return ATR 72-500 aircraft to the leasing company.
In year 2015, a total of five dry leased ATR 72-500 aircraft registrations AP-BKV, AP-BKW, AP-BKX, AP-BKY and AP-BKY joined PIA fleet.
The aircraft were acquired on dry lease for up to eight years under a bids invitation issued in year 2014.
Induction of ATR 72-500 was criticized for a variety of reasons including aircraft's inability to perform flights to/from mountainous areas of Pakistan on regular basis.
On November 24, 2018, PIA ATR 72-500 registration AP-BKW was damaged beyond repairs in ground collision with grounded Shaheen Air Boeing 737-400 registration AP-BJU at Karachi Airport.
PIA bids invitation in May 16, 2020, newspaper sought complete overhaul of landing gear shipset installed on ATR 72-500 aircraft registrations:
AP-BKV
AP-BKX
AP-BKY
AP-BKZ
AP-BKV landing gear overhaul due on April 11, 2021.
AP-BKX landing gear overhaul due on August 16, 2021.
AP-BKY landing gear overhaul due on November 10, 2020.
AP-BKZ landing gear overhaul due on September 30, 2020.
Currently all four ATR 72-500 in PIA fleet are inactive:
AP-BKV
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-bkv
AP-BKX
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-bkx
AP-BKY
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-bky
AP-BKZ
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-bkz
Abbas
In year 2015, a total of five dry leased ATR 72-500 aircraft registrations AP-BKV, AP-BKW, AP-BKX, AP-BKY and AP-BKY joined PIA fleet.
The aircraft were acquired on dry lease for up to eight years under a bids invitation issued in year 2014.
Induction of ATR 72-500 was criticized for a variety of reasons including aircraft's inability to perform flights to/from mountainous areas of Pakistan on regular basis.
On November 24, 2018, PIA ATR 72-500 registration AP-BKW was damaged beyond repairs in ground collision with grounded Shaheen Air Boeing 737-400 registration AP-BJU at Karachi Airport.
PIA bids invitation in May 16, 2020, newspaper sought complete overhaul of landing gear shipset installed on ATR 72-500 aircraft registrations:
AP-BKV
AP-BKX
AP-BKY
AP-BKZ
AP-BKV landing gear overhaul due on April 11, 2021.
AP-BKX landing gear overhaul due on August 16, 2021.
AP-BKY landing gear overhaul due on November 10, 2020.
AP-BKZ landing gear overhaul due on September 30, 2020.
Currently all four ATR 72-500 in PIA fleet are inactive:
AP-BKV
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-bkv
AP-BKX
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-bkx
AP-BKY
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-bky
AP-BKZ
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-bkz
Abbas
-
- Registered Member
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2014 11:52 am
- Location: Karachi
Re: PIA to Return ATR 72 Aircraft to Leasing Company
So there will be only 3 ATRs left in the fleet. Already PIA has a bad reputation with so many hull-losses in ATR fleet. Wonder if they have plans for adding more ATR 42s in future. PIA's ATR fleet once was standing at 11 at its peak.
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 52155
- Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2004 6:52 pm
- Location: Pakistan
Re: PIA to Return ATR 72 Aircraft to Leasing Company
December 11, PIA ATR 72-500 registration AP-BKY Pakistan to South Africa ferry flight PK6721 route:
Karachi Jinnah International Airport (Pakistan) -> Muscat International Airport (Oman) -> Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport (Saudi Arabia) -> Juba Airport (South Sudan) -> Lubumbashi International Airport (Democratic Republic Of The Congo) -> Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport (South Africa).
PIA ATR 72-500 registration AP-BKY photographed at Dera Ghazi Khan Airport by First Officer Uzair Ansari in 2016.
Abbas
Karachi Jinnah International Airport (Pakistan) -> Muscat International Airport (Oman) -> Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport (Saudi Arabia) -> Juba Airport (South Sudan) -> Lubumbashi International Airport (Democratic Republic Of The Congo) -> Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport (South Africa).
PIA ATR 72-500 registration AP-BKY photographed at Dera Ghazi Khan Airport by First Officer Uzair Ansari in 2016.
Abbas
-
- Registered Member
- Posts: 1225
- Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 6:31 am
- Location: n24e57
Re: PIA to Return ATR 72 Aircraft to Leasing Company
Departure is on 12th Dec
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 52155
- Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2004 6:52 pm
- Location: Pakistan
Re: PIA to Return ATR 72 Aircraft to Leasing Company
^ thank you for correction.
Abbas
Abbas
-
- Registered Member
- Posts: 1710
- Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2005 10:52 am
- Location: San Francisco. C.A.
Re: PIA to Return ATR 72 Aircraft to Leasing Company
Covid Provide an opportunity to return Aircraft to the lessor(s) that are not really needed and about to expire the lease term. And PIA should induct newer Aircraft according to the market dynamics.
Three Aircraft types are enough for PIA, after a while PIA consolidated it for B777, A320 and ATR.
And now, IMO, PIA should explore possibility of inducting/leasing A220-100 aircraft instead of ATR's, and should return all of the ATRs, and work with CAA to make sure that every regional Airfield currently handling ATR operation should very least be able to handle A220-100 operation as well.
All of such Airfields can handle A220-100, but i am not sure about CJL and GIL.
Fortune favours brave.
-
- Registered Member
- Posts: 198
- Joined: Mon May 25, 2020 9:57 am
Re: PIA to Return ATR 72 Aircraft to Leasing Company
From what i know the A220 requires about 400-500 feet more runway than the ATR standing at 4480 ft , most ATR operated fields in Pakistan hover around 5000 feet a few hundred feet of expansion would be enough for safe operation of the A220 , for gilgit they can use the park directly infront of the runaway but chitral has no way of expansion both ends of the runway are very close to river embankments , maybe buy 1-2 new ATRs just for chitral and keep rest of the fleet fully jet powered. Airport expansions are very likely since the Government is keen om boosting tourism in the north.
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 52155
- Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2004 6:52 pm
- Location: Pakistan
Re: PIA to Return ATR 72 Aircraft to Leasing Company
PIA ATR 72-500 registration AP-BKY Pakistan to South Africa ferry flight PK6721 with multiple technical/refueling stops.
Source: flightradar24.com
Abbas
Source: flightradar24.com
Abbas
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 52155
- Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2004 6:52 pm
- Location: Pakistan
Re: PIA to Return ATR 72 Aircraft to Leasing Company
According to news reports, ATR 72-500 was unsuitable and not earning profit. However, the long lease term of ATR 72s was hurdle in returning them to the leasing company.
PIA management used a clause in aircraft lease agreement that enabled the airline to return all five dry leased ATR 72-500 aircraft during the COVID-19 pandemic.
PIA ATR 72-500 registration AP-BKY departing from Karachi Airport as ferry flight PK6721 to South Africa with multiple technical/refueling stops.
Abbas
PIA management used a clause in aircraft lease agreement that enabled the airline to return all five dry leased ATR 72-500 aircraft during the COVID-19 pandemic.
PIA ATR 72-500 registration AP-BKY departing from Karachi Airport as ferry flight PK6721 to South Africa with multiple technical/refueling stops.
Abbas
-
- Registered Member
- Posts: 1225
- Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 6:31 am
- Location: n24e57
Re: PIA to Return ATR 72 Aircraft to Leasing Company
How many ATR will PIA keep any information?
-
- Registered Member
- Posts: 2932
- Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2004 7:10 pm
- Location: Lahore
Re: PIA to Return ATR 72 Aircraft to Leasing Company
Yes the Covid-19 did destroy air travel business no doubt, but why return now and not earlier in June or July??
Once the the vaccine was out and travel could resume, PIA could have been a bit more creative and used the ATR72 for new routes that might have worked for local tourism.
I have always wondered why PIA could not connect Lahore to its Northern areas airports.
Lahore-Gilgit
Lahore-Skardu
Lahore-Chitral
With direct flights from Lahore instead of Islamabad the number of tourist going to these cities would increase.
Lahore-Kabul (lot of Afghans settled in Lahore)
Karachi-Multan multiple daily flights
Karachi-Quetta multiple daily flights
Lahore-Quetta
Islamabad-Quetta
Once the the vaccine was out and travel could resume, PIA could have been a bit more creative and used the ATR72 for new routes that might have worked for local tourism.
I have always wondered why PIA could not connect Lahore to its Northern areas airports.
Lahore-Gilgit
Lahore-Skardu
Lahore-Chitral
With direct flights from Lahore instead of Islamabad the number of tourist going to these cities would increase.
Lahore-Kabul (lot of Afghans settled in Lahore)
Karachi-Multan multiple daily flights
Karachi-Quetta multiple daily flights
Lahore-Quetta
Islamabad-Quetta
P.I.A
God's International Airline
God's International Airline
-
- Registered Member
- Posts: 1225
- Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 6:31 am
- Location: n24e57
Re: PIA to Return ATR 72 Aircraft to Leasing Company
Always wonder why PIA never operated. UET MUX. UET LYP UET PEW
-
- Registered Member
- Posts: 198
- Joined: Mon May 25, 2020 9:57 am
Re: PIA to Return ATR 72 Aircraft to Leasing Company
Maybe as a part of the Government’s tourism policy they will expand northern areas airports or maybe make new ones , this would mean PIA could get the A220-100 to operate these flights , its a better option from a comfort perspective as well as maintenance perspective , looking at the overall records from fokker to ATR PIA handles Jet powered aircraft better than turboprops.
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 52155
- Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2004 6:52 pm
- Location: Pakistan
Re: PIA to Return ATR 72 Aircraft to Leasing Company
According to PIA spokesperson, the airline was making lease payments for ATR 72-500 sitting idle on the ground due to COVID-19 pandemic.
PIA took benefit of a clause that allowed airline to return the grounded/unutilized aircraft due to reduction/suspension of flight operations during COVID-19 pandemic. The airline will save millions of dollars in aircraft lease payments.
PIA is returning ATR 72-500 aircraft to the leasing company without any penalties payment.
All four ATR 72-500 aircraft registrations AP-BKV, AP-BKX, AP-BKY and AP-BKZ will be returned to the leasing company.
The three ATR 42-500 aircraft registrations AP-BHH, AP-BHI and AP-BHM owned by PIA will continue to serve the airline.
Abbas
PIA took benefit of a clause that allowed airline to return the grounded/unutilized aircraft due to reduction/suspension of flight operations during COVID-19 pandemic. The airline will save millions of dollars in aircraft lease payments.
PIA is returning ATR 72-500 aircraft to the leasing company without any penalties payment.
All four ATR 72-500 aircraft registrations AP-BKV, AP-BKX, AP-BKY and AP-BKZ will be returned to the leasing company.
The three ATR 42-500 aircraft registrations AP-BHH, AP-BHI and AP-BHM owned by PIA will continue to serve the airline.
Abbas
-
- Registered Member
- Posts: 470
- Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2011 3:03 am
Re: PIA to Return ATR 72 Aircraft to Leasing Company
Since there is no refuelling at GIL/KDU/CJL it is not possible to operate direct flights to/from LHE. There will always have to be a stopover at ISB on the way back or vice versa.Amaad Lone wrote: ↑Sat Dec 12, 2020 7:54 pm I have always wondered why PIA could not connect Lahore to its Northern areas airports.
Lahore-Gilgit
Lahore-Skardu
Lahore-Chitral